TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME - TEN YEARS OF THE PALERMO CONVENTION

The Article is connected with the tenth anniversary of the opening for signature of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, known generally as 'the Palermo Convention'. It covers the main subtopics presented in the text under the following subtitles: 1) Tenth anniversary of the Convention; 2) Development of the phenomenon; 3) International counter-action - the United Nations; 4) The Palermo Convention and Protocols - main substance; 5) Relationship between the Palermo Convention and its Protocols; 6) Future activities and further instruments of the United Nations; 7) Transnational organized crime and the European Union; 8) Transnational organized crime and international security. The core of legal analysis is contained in the fourth part, presenting the main substance of the Palermo Convention and its Protocols. The last parts of the article are devoted to the short presentation of the main streams of further development of international legal activities connected with the combating transnational organized crime, mainly within the United Nations system and the European Union. In final, the following conclusion summarizes the considerations made by the author: If the international community really wants to find and exercise effective measures against transnational organized crime, it seems inevitable to come, as soon as possible, to the conclusion that these acts are not only contrary to internal criminal laws of individual States, but that they may create a real threat to international peace and security, mostly because of their substantial gravity, organized form and transnational nature.